Super PACs outspend Senate candidates

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The GOP Senate Primary between Richard Lugar and Richard Mourdock is, in some ways, a national race. Groups from outside Indiana are spending far more than the candidates are.

"Vote against Richard Mourdock," blares an ad from the American Action Network. "Too many problems, a risk we can't afford."

The goal is to help incumbent GOP Sen. Lugar. The target of those ads, Mourdock, said voters see them for what they are.

"It's nonsense," Mourdock said. "It's over the top."

Another ad from the other side, by the Club for Growth, begins: "This time Indiana Republicans have a choice for Senate." Its goal is to help Mourdock, who says: "They deserve their right to be heard."

When asked if outside ads are good when they're on your behalf and bad when they're not, Mourdock said: "Sure."

But consider this: While Lugar has spent close to $2 million dollars on TV ads and Mourdock more than $400,000, political action committees have spent more than both candidates combined, about $2.37 million.

The Lugar campaign doesn't like it.

"Most people in politics today would prefer a system that has a greater degree of transparency," said Lugar spokesman Andy Fisher, "and campaigns that are controlled by the candidates."

So far, the independent money favors Mourdock. The Club for Growth has spent $1.2 million on television, while the American Action Network tab is at $636,000.

Will outside groups decide this race? "We'll know in three weeks," Fisher said.

In the meantime, even ads from the candidates are about the outside money. A new Lugar ad says: "Richard Mourdock's already sold out to D.C. outsiders."

Efforts to reach those political action committees for comment have been unsuccessful. Apparently, they want their ads to do all the talking.